By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Zeeland Township Fire Chief Brock Bruce is getting a significant boost in his pay.
The Township Board Dec. 16 unanimously approved raising the salary of Bruce, who has been township fire chief since May 2023, from $56,511 to $70,000, effective Dec. 28. The board also granted him full retirement benefits and paid time-off benefits based on his past service as chief.
Bruce and Township Manager Josh Eggleston had met several times over the last couple of months to discuss the chief’s compensation. Eggleston said that when Bruce was hired, it was with the understanding that Bruce would work a 20-hour-a-week schedule.
However, Eggleston says Bruce routinely has been working more than 20 hours weekly. He proposed the pay scale be based on a 29-hour work week.
“He’s done a lot to bring the department into compliance,” Eggleston said.
“When you have a 20-hour-a-week job, Brock’s the kind of person that is going to be here, all the time … He’s just that kind of person. He’s always going to be here,” Supervisor Tom Oonk said. “Josh’s job is to kind of rein him back and (tell him) ‘Brock, you need a vacation. Brock, don’t be here so much.’”
The board looked at giving Bruce a cost-of-living raise of 2.9 percent that would have boosted his pay next year to $58,150. However, Trustee Kerri Bosma said that even with boosting the chief’s pay to $70,000, the township is still paying considerably less than neighboring communities that have full-time fire chiefs.
“We’ve got a great fire chief. I think he’s got some longevity here,” Bosma said. “He’s building and training many people. I would hate for us to lose an individual at this pay rate – we’re still ahead (of other municipalities) compared to if we were hiring somebody full-time at 100 some-odd-thousand dollars.”
Treasurer Melissa Veldheer agreed.
“I think there’s no dispute over his qualifications, his excellence,” Veldheer said. “He leads by example, which is why he’s at almost every call that you can make. I just can’t say enough good things about him.”
Veldheer added that the township has adequate funds in its fire compensation fund, which is supported by a voted tax levy, to accommodate Bruce’s pay boost.
Trustee Dave Barry said the township may find itself in a position in the near future where it may have to elevate the chief’s job to full-time.
“With the growing number of calls and expansion of our services in the township, at some point we’re going to reach a threshold where … this is a 40-hour position,” Barry said.
Bruce has been with the department for 18 years, and served as deputy chief for two-and-a-half years before being promoted when previous Chief Phil Hunderman retired.
Zeeland Record
Zeeland Township Fire Chief Brock Bruce is getting a significant boost in his pay.
The Township Board Dec. 16 unanimously approved raising the salary of Bruce, who has been township fire chief since May 2023, from $56,511 to $70,000, effective Dec. 28. The board also granted him full retirement benefits and paid time-off benefits based on his past service as chief.
Bruce and Township Manager Josh Eggleston had met several times over the last couple of months to discuss the chief’s compensation. Eggleston said that when Bruce was hired, it was with the understanding that Bruce would work a 20-hour-a-week schedule.
However, Eggleston says Bruce routinely has been working more than 20 hours weekly. He proposed the pay scale be based on a 29-hour work week.
“He’s done a lot to bring the department into compliance,” Eggleston said.
“When you have a 20-hour-a-week job, Brock’s the kind of person that is going to be here, all the time … He’s just that kind of person. He’s always going to be here,” Supervisor Tom Oonk said. “Josh’s job is to kind of rein him back and (tell him) ‘Brock, you need a vacation. Brock, don’t be here so much.’”
The board looked at giving Bruce a cost-of-living raise of 2.9 percent that would have boosted his pay next year to $58,150. However, Trustee Kerri Bosma said that even with boosting the chief’s pay to $70,000, the township is still paying considerably less than neighboring communities that have full-time fire chiefs.
“We’ve got a great fire chief. I think he’s got some longevity here,” Bosma said. “He’s building and training many people. I would hate for us to lose an individual at this pay rate – we’re still ahead (of other municipalities) compared to if we were hiring somebody full-time at 100 some-odd-thousand dollars.”
Treasurer Melissa Veldheer agreed.
“I think there’s no dispute over his qualifications, his excellence,” Veldheer said. “He leads by example, which is why he’s at almost every call that you can make. I just can’t say enough good things about him.”
Veldheer added that the township has adequate funds in its fire compensation fund, which is supported by a voted tax levy, to accommodate Bruce’s pay boost.
Trustee Dave Barry said the township may find itself in a position in the near future where it may have to elevate the chief’s job to full-time.
“With the growing number of calls and expansion of our services in the township, at some point we’re going to reach a threshold where … this is a 40-hour position,” Barry said.
Bruce has been with the department for 18 years, and served as deputy chief for two-and-a-half years before being promoted when previous Chief Phil Hunderman retired.
